Page 44 of Styx & Stones

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ALASKA

Styx’s gaze darts tomine and then across the road at the immaculate Victorian house. “You’re sure your dad’s not home?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. He leaves for work at ungodly o’clock.”

“Then what the hell are you waiting for?”

That’s a good question.What am I waiting for? “A sign that this isn’t the stupidest idea you’ve ever had, and that I’m not the dumbest teenager alive for following you to Disneyland.”

“It’s a couple of days—four at the most. Five tops.”

“I can’t help but notice your plan has gone from a day at the most to let’s take a whole week off.”

“You only live once, right?”

I shake my head and take out my phone, pulling up my Insta stories.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Going on an adventure. Duh.” I roll my eyes.

“You’re gonna livestream our escape?”

“That’s the plan.”

Styx stares out the window. “Oh shit. Is that your mom? I thought you said she wasn’t here.”

“No. I said my dad wasn’t here.” I shrug. “My mom is always home.”

“Stones, won’t she lose her shit if she sees you?”

“Yep.” I check my hair in the viewfinder and hit Live.

“Then what—”

“What up, Aerosol Addicts? You guys remember my homecoming date, Styx, right?” I turn the camera on him. He makes a derp face, so I steal the limelight back. “Well, we have a treat for you. This bonehead is taking me on a mother-freaking road trip. Say hi, bonehead.”

I shift closer to Styx and he jumps in the frame.

“Hi, bonehead.” He grins, and in his stupid polarized wayfarers, he looks even cuter than usual.

“You’re a dick.”

He grins wider, and I realize that I’m gaping at him again like a dumbass. I turn my attention back to the screen. My notifications are going crazy. I’ve never seen so many damn hearts and heart-eye emojis floating across my screen. “So, here’s the deal: I’m scheduled for surgery next week. A surgery I don’t know if I’ll survive. I mean, chances of not dying are pretty good, but that’s all they could guarantee. I don’t know if I’ll lose the use of my arms, or if I’ll be much more than a vegetable, so Styx is breaking me out. I’m going on an adventure, in case I can’t anymore.”

I swallow hard and glance at Styx, who’s watching me with rapt attention. “And my goodfriendStyx—”

“Friend?” he says. I flip the camera on him again and roll my eyes, because the comments coming in are just hilarious.

“Myfrieeend”—I draw out the word—“Styx is helping me escape reality for a little bit, but here’s the catch. The mom monster is home, so we need to get in and grab my stuff and get out without her ever knowing I was here.”